BILLINGS, Mont. (Nov. 1) – Alaska Anchorage guard Tyler Burraston scored 19 points to help hist team to an early advantage, but St. Edward's used a huge second-half surge to earn an 80-73 men's basketball victory over the Seawolves on Friday in the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Seawolves (2-1) also got 16 points from fellow newcomer Zach Ibbetson, plus 12 points and four assists from senior guard Sean Evans as they were hurt by 20 turnovers.

The Hilltoppers (1-0) were led by 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting, seven rebounds and seven assists from guard Blake Nielsen as the Austin, Texas, program outshot the Seawolves .526 (20-38) to .375 (9-24) after halftime.

"We were able to handle their pressure at the outset, which helped us build that early lead," said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne. "Once we stopped taking care of the ball, however, it led to a lot of easy points for them in transition. We will need to refocus quickly with no more tough games coming up the next two days."

The Seawolves held the Lone Star Conference club without a field goal for a five-minute stretch midway through the first half as they earned a 17-8 advantage. Ibbetson struck for a pair of three-pointers during a subsequent run, and Hasaan Herrington made three straight free throws to stretch the lead to 38-20 with 2:11 to play in the half.

UAA's momentum would not last, however, as the Hilltoppers closed the half with a 9-0 surge.

Burraston nailed a three-pointer to reestablish a 44-34 lead with 17:52 left in the game, but the Seawolves would not score again until the 12:02 mark, while the Hilltoppers went on a 16-0 run.

After Burraston tied it 52-52 on his fifth and final three-pointer with 9:28 remaining, St. Edward's guard Conor McManus buried a top-of-the-arc trey to give his team the lead for good. UAA kept it a one- or two-possession affair for most of the homestretch, but Jamison Kay's three-point play made it 76-71 with 90 seconds left and stood as the essential clincher.

A transfer from Green River (Wash.) Community College, Burraston shot 6 of 12 overall and 5 of 10 from long range, along with seven rebounds, two turnovers, two steals and no turnovers.

Ibbetson was 5 of 7 from the field (3-5 3FG) and 3 of 3 at the foul stripe, while Herrington finished with six points (6-7 FT).

Junior forward Bishop Tosi led UAA with eight rebounds, and John McFadden had five points and seven rebounds.

The Seawolves return to the same court at 1 p.m. ADT Saturday to face Texas A&M-International (0-1). Find live video and stats links at GoSeawolves.com.